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Fri, 17/07/2015 - 14:27

Powering a new generation of energy systems: Artemis Intelligent Power wins the UK's premier engineering prize.

HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, last night presented the UK's longest running and most prestigious prize for engineering innovation to a team from Artemis Intelligent Power. Managing Director Dr Niall Caldwell, Operations Director Pierre Joly, Chairman Dr Win Rampen FREng, Non-Executive Director Professor Stephen Salter FRSE and Chief Engineer Dr Uwe Stein were announced as the winners of the 2015 Royal Academy of Engineering MacRobert Award at the Academy's annual Awards Dinner at the Landmark Hotel in London. HRH The Duke of Edinburgh is the Academy’s Senior Fellow.

Known for spotting the 'next big thing' in the technology sector, the MacRobert Award identifies outstanding innovation with proven commercial success and tangible social benefit. As well as gaining from the prestige of the award, the winners receive a gold medal and a £50,000 prize.

"Warmest congratulations to our staff members Dr Win Rampen and Professor Stephen Salter, and to all at Artemis."

Prof Hugh McCann
Head of School of Engineering

Edinburgh-based Artemis has pioneered a new Digital Displacement® power system, with digitally controlled hydraulics, that that has the potential to transform the viability of offshore wind power and low carbon transportation. As well as dramatically improving power capacity, the smart, modular system has been designed to overcome the significant reliability issues associated with existing turbines. Artemis is already delivering world-leading systems, significantly improving turbine efficiency and, with it, the prospects for future exploitation of wind power.

Artemis is also applying the same technology to reduce the fuel consumption of commuter trains and buses. A regenerative braking energy storage system based on Digital Displacement® can be retrofitted to existing diesel commuter trains, and recent trials with Ricardo and Bombardier have shown that it can reduce fuel consumption by some 10%. The system also generates less noise and cuts exhaust emissions within stations.

Hybrid buses are also becoming more viable thanks to Digital Displacement®. Together with Lothian Buses and Alexander Dennis, Artemis has successfully demonstrated fuel savings of up to 27% on urban buses. Crucially, the new system provides bus operators with a 2-3 year payback without subsidies, making it globally affordable. Mainstream electric hybrid technology requires many expensive materials and processes, which can add 50% to the initial cost and means higher maintenance costs. This means that, despite saving fuel, hybrid buses have previously not made business sense without government subsidies. The Artemis system is made of common materials using regular processes, which significantly reduces the cost and means the systems can be maintained by existing staff.

Artemis was up against MacRobert Award finalists Cambridge-based Endomag, which was selected as a finalist for its breast cancer diagnostic tool that avoids the use of radioactive tracers in determining the spread of cancer through the lymphatic system; and Blackpool-based Victrex, for the development of advanced polymers in ultra-thin sheets for use in smartphone and tablet speakers.